Lillian, an Account Director, is always busy at work and as a result finds it difficult to maintain regular eating and drinking habits.

"Recently, I've been really busy with a very important presentation. I've been working long hours and have to make frequent trips to Shanghai. As a result, my eating and drinking habits have become very irregular. Then one day, I bumped into a nutritionist friend at the airport. She told me I looked awful! At first, I was quite taken aback; but then she started to quiz me about my daily drinking habits. I told her I was too busy to stop for regular drinks and that when I did I would usually grab a cup of coffee. I'd get through four or five cups of coffee at most - and I usually drained two cups in one sitting."

"My friend recognised that my problem was dehydration. She said that 70% of the human body is made up of water, and your brain is 75% water. As a result, even slight dehydration can make us feel tired and reduce our performance. Having to make so many business trips, I was dehydrating in the dry cabin environment of the plane, so my skin and throat were always dry. My friend recommended that I drink water every 3 hours during a flight to replace my lost fluids. It also helps to prevent swollen feet and hands during a flight and a dry throat and skin and lack of energy after it."

"My friend also said we need adequate water to keep a clear mind, while our skin can only regain its moisture and suppleness if our body has taken in enough water. I was also pleased to learn that it can also help you to lose weight by suppressing your appetite and helping to metabolise fat."

"She also explained that water is especially important for women as it can prevent urinary tract infections, by flushing out the harmful bacteria.

"The last piece of advice my friend gave me was to drink pure distilled water, such as Watsons, if possible. The reason is simple: it's healthier because it's free of unhealthy substances such as pesticides, bacteria and heavy metals.

As a result of her chance encounter, Lillian has changed her habits and feels a lot better for it.

"I now drink 8 cups of water a day and my complexion is so much better. I also make sure that I carry a bottle of distilled water with me on the commute to work, so that I don't begin the day feeling dehydrated. I like to look and feel my best, and I now realise that water is vital to that."